Welcome to the StarCraft: Discussion FAQ! Here we try to answer all of the commonly asked questions of the StarCraft Forums. Please read through them if you are new to the forums. That will save us all a lot of time and unnecessary efforts. Note: Of course, this FAQ is never really complete. If you think of something that should be in here or something that should be changed, please send one of the SC Moderators a PM. We will be updating this FAQ regularly.

From the official BlizzForums FAQ: Advertising sites is forbidden. Some of the time, you may find that if you post a link to your own (non-profit) page, this will be tolerated, but that does not take away the fact that it is forbidden anyway.

This includes, but does not limit to, the following for the StarCraft Forums: No links to clans or other forums. If you want to post a link and you are uncertain if it is allowed, please ask one of the moderators.

Hacks, CD-Keys, Bots and Third-Party Programs:

Here at BlizzForums, we uphold and follow the rules set forth by Blizzard. Blizzard does not condone the use of hacks, the use of bots, the spread of generated CD-Keys, or the proliferation of most other third-party programs that would modify gameplay. Players known to use such programs often find that their Battle.net account has been deleted or silenced, or they can no longer log onto Battle.net, even with a new account. At BlizzForums, you can expect the same sort of treatment.

CD-Keys: Some programs or files, such as bots, require the use of a CD-Key to operate on Battle.net. We do not condone the generation of keys or their proliferation.

Hacks: We view game-hacks and their users as puerile and immature, admitting they cannot play the game and win with their own ability and talent without their use. Also know that most people who use these cannot be truly considered "hackers", for this is a term applied to individuals capable of developing their own programs. Individuals who download game-hacks are little more than script-kiddies, people who cannot aspire to write their own programs, and steal others'. Please, don't fall into either of these categories.

Bots: We also condemn the use of Bots. More often than not people who use these use them to spam chat channels and promote themselves. Their use often results in a silenced account.

Now finally, there are a select few programs that Blizzard does condone, and we find some of these to be useful and "legal". The following is a brief list of such harmless programs and their functions. (Please, if you find any other programs and have questions about them and their "legality", don't hesitate to ask any of your friendly neighborhood StarCraft moderators.)

SC Sound Utility: Allows for the automatic extraction of sounds from StarCraft to be used in custom maps.

BW Sound Utility: Allows for the automatic extraction of sounds from StarCraft: Brood War to be used in custom maps.

MPQ Viewer: Allows for the manual extraction of all data files (images, sounds, missions, etc) encrypted within the MPQ files.

BWChart: BWchart is meant to analyse the list of actions recorded in a .rep file, and display some charts mostly about the economic development. It can also show you your APM.

Extra Maps and Missions

To bring some of you up to speed about the potential story of StarCraft II, here is the following information that extends beyond the single-player campaigns in StarCraft and StarCraft: Brood War.

Dark Origin:
By beating Brood War's Zerg mission #9 with more than 5 minutes left on the timer (without using the instant-win cheat), you will activate the secret mission, Dark Origin. In this mission, you play as Zeratul, and discover that Duran is not Kerrigan's pawn, but is a servant of an unnamed race. Duran's mission is to create Hybrids of Protoss and Zerg. Duran claimed that he had seeded the Hybrids on many worlds, and that Zeratul would not be able to find them all before they were complete. Who Duran works for is a mystery. It may be the Xel'Naga, and it may not be. There is no proof.Text Script of Dark Origin

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Deception:
Deception is a bonus mission downloadable from Blizzard's map archives. This mission takes place shortly after Brood War. It follows three space pirates who infiltrate a Confederate Science Facility, and what they discover there. In this mission, you see Infested Stukov, resurrected and infested into the swarm. Also, at the end of mission, you are informed of the titles of "secret files" that you pick up throughout the map. The list of these secret files are contained in the text script.Text Script of Deception

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Resurrection IV:
Resurrection IV takes place shortly after Deception. Raynor and an ancient Protoss warrior, Taldarin, are sent to Braxis by Artanis to de-infest Stukov using a new nano-tech serum. Raynor and Taldarin succeed, and escape. After their escape, the Protoss bombard the surface of Braxis. Zeratul's location is currently unknown.Text Script of Resurrection IVProof of Resurrection IV being canon (Search for 64)

I'm adding Resistance discussion to the list of banned topics for the Starcraft Discussion forum. The majority of its members have done nothing beneficial for the forum, and their "Resistance activity" is only breeding spam.

"As a kid it was traumatic. It was one thing for your teacher to tell you that life was harsh for settlers headed West in the decades after the Louisiana Purchase. It was a lot more chilling to watch as your three children, "Boobs, Fart, and Winky" drowned in the Colorado river shortly before your wife died of diarrhea."
- Gamespy talking about the original Oregon Trail

Small update. Replaced obsolete Resistance ban with a more general anti-Blizzard/anti-SC ban such as the one i StarCraft 2 Discussion.

"As a kid it was traumatic. It was one thing for your teacher to tell you that life was harsh for settlers headed West in the decades after the Louisiana Purchase. It was a lot more chilling to watch as your three children, "Boobs, Fart, and Winky" drowned in the Colorado river shortly before your wife died of diarrhea."
- Gamespy talking about the original Oregon Trail